Delivering Archeological Information Electronically (2000-02)

Like archeological information on paper, the archeological information we get in digital form must be both appropriate and trustworthy. The forms we can obtain must be the right ones for the job — cost effective and usable. At the same time, what we receive — capta, information, knowledge or summary — must be dependable, resulting from transformations that we can understand and evaluate.

In sum, we have seen here many interesting perspectives on electronic delivery of archeological information. It is clear that we will be using electronic forms of delivery more and more in the future; it is clear that we can do many new and exciting things in the process; it is clear that new paradigms must be developed. At the same time, it is equally clear that issues of cost remain to be determined in many areas, that we must resist the temptation to use the technology for its own sake, and that we must consider the skills required of users. Finally, we need to be more aware of the potential problems of providing data that have been manipulated by computers for us — but not in ways permitting and requiring our inspection and examination. In each of these areas the key to moving successfully forward may be found first in having real aims and goals, second in planning appropriate measurements of our results, and third in carrying out the measurements. Some of these issues, however, require more open discussion among interested scholars — particularly the issues surrounding the question of appropriate digital forms for archeological data.

This research was made possible through funding from the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT).